Little Men: Life at Plumfield With Jo's Boys: Large Print

While Nat takes a good long sleep, I will tell my little readers something about the boys, among whom he found himself when he woke up.To begin with our old friends. Franz was a tall lad, of sixteen now, a regular German, big, blond, and bookish, also very domestic, amiable, and musical. His uncle was fitting him forcollege, and his aunt for a happy home of his own hereafter, because she carefully fosteredin him gentle manners, love of children, respect for women, old and young, and helpfulways about the house. He was her right-hand man on all occasions, steady, kind, andpatient; and he loved his merry aunt like a mother, for such she had tried to be to him.Emil was quite different, being quick-tempered, restless, and enterprising, bent on goingto sea, for the blood of the old vikings stirred in his veins, and could not be tamed. His unclepromised that he should go when he was sixteen, and set him to studying navigation, gavehim stories of good and famous admirals and heroes to read, and let him lead the life of afrog in river, pond, and brook, when lessons were done. His room looked like the cabin of aman-of-war, for every thing was nautical, military, and shipshape. Captain Kyd was hisdelight, and his favorite amusement was to rig up like that piratical gentleman, and roar outsanguinary sea-songs at the top of his voice. He would dance nothing but sailors' hornpipes, rolled in his gait, and was as nautical in conversation to his uncle would permit. The boyscalled him "Commodore," and took great pride in his fleet, which whitened the pond andsuffered disasters that would have daunted any commander but a sea-struck b